Thursday, March 01, 2012

New look for Commando from today

Four more issues of Commando are in the shops today, and now the comic's in its 51st year it's been given a little makeover.

Don't worry. The old adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" doesn't really apply as these are only slight tweaks. The format remains the same as it has since 1961 but now each one of the four issues falls into its own specific category with an appropriate masthead to suit.

Here's editor Calum Laird with the specifics:

Commando may now come in four distinct guises but our mission to bring our readers the best action and adventure stories remains unchanged.

Home Of Heroes:No 4475 “Invasion Dawn” is a story from our brand-new Home Of Heroes Collection. These stories always revolve around a British hero, no matter where in the world you may find him. We rate these as The Best Of British

The Gold Collection:Following the feedback we had from our readers last year — our 50th — we’ve decided to do what they wanted and go right back to Commando’s earliest years to dust off some classic tales. You’ll see from the cover of No 4477 “Lone Hero” that it is part of our Gold Collection, one that first saw the light of day 50 years ago — in 1962.

The Silver Collection:Many readers asked to re-read stories from a later period so Lone Hero’s companion “Death From The Sky” (No 4478) is from a different era — 25 years ago — and is part of our Silver Collection.

For Action And Adventure:Between the covers of this series, Commando will continue to be Britain’s premier title for adventure stories. In here you’ll find stories from the depths of the sea, the dizziest of heights and from the four corners of the globe. Just like the others, No 4476 “Murder In The Heights” carries on Commando’s tradition of Action And Adventure.

Here's the plot details of the four issues out today...

Commando No 4471 — Invasion Dawn

A minor military base in a remote corner of the British Isles would not be the place you’d expect to find a battle royal raging. And if you did, how could a group of the Home Guard’s old warriors stand up to an enemy attack.They may have been put to the test in battles past, but that was a long time ago. And what of the Home Guard’s youngster, would he be up to the task? You can bet he would try.Invaders beware!

Story: Mac MacDonaldArt: Carlos PinoCover: Carlos Pino

Commando No 4476 — Murder in The Heights

The history books of the First World War concentrate on events on the Western Front in France, the scene of the fiercest battles the world had ever seen. The fighting, though, was not confined to France, for all over Europe armies faced each other.In Greece, Italians, Greeks, Austrians and Germans battled it out on the plains and in the mountains.Into this cauldron rode British Army Lieutenant John Fielding, little guessing that some of his enemies were prepared to go beyond the normal rules of war…

Story: Alan HebdenArt: OliveraCover: Janek Matysiak

Commando No 4477 — Lone Hero

“Let The Other Bloke Be The Mug”

While his 8th Army mates fought and died under the glaring desert sun of North Africa, Private Sam Deacon was content to drive a truck. Not for him the blood and guts of battle, the risk of stopping a German bullet: “Let the other bloke be the mug,” was his motto.Then he met one of the ‘other blokes’ who wasn’t a mug — a hero who rammed those words down Deacon’s throat till he squealed for mercy — and found himself a hero too.

Introduction by Calum Laird, Commando Editor

Where would Commando have been without the combined talents of Ken Barr and Gordon Livingstone? If this story from our Gold Collection (from 50 years ago) is anything to go by, the title would have struggled. The cover, with its generous helping of yellows and oranges, leaves you in no doubt that you’re in the searing heat of the North Africa desert. Inside, the line of the art charges from the first page to the last, packed with movement and character.We’d better not forget Eric Castle’s tale either, it’s another gold-plated cracker…which I think you should read for yourself!

Lone Hero, originally Commando No 18 (Feb 1962)

Story Eric CastleArt Gordon LivingstoneCover Ken Barr

Commando No 4478 — Death From The Sky

Stuck in a shore job, Sub-Lieutenant Mike Wilson was desperate to see action — so desperate he even volunteered to check out an unexploded Jap bomb lodged in the hold of a merchant ship.After surviving that ordeal, he thought serving in a sub would be a piece of cake. But with bombs, depth-charges and enemy suicide planes to contend with, he couldn’t have been more wrong!Commando Campaign Diary No 4478

Introduction by Scott Montgomery, Deputy Editor

In this Pacific War tale we meet Sub-Lieutenant Mike Wilson. He’s a gutsy bloke for sure, but not the brightest. And he’s pretty impatient too — preferring to act before he thinks. Admirable, but very likely to get himself and his mates killed. Perhaps it’s ironic that a budding Navy officer could (literally) get out of his depth! Especially with the threat of Japanese Okha planes, with Kamikaze pilots at the controls, on the horizon. So Mike is a brave, flawed but intriguing character — but can he become a true Commando hero? Read on and find out!

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Established in 2006, BLIMEY! is a blog that looks back at classic British comics and sometimes reports on current and upcoming titles. Images are copyright their respective publishers and are only used here for review purposes.

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About Me

I work as a professional humour comics artist and writer and have been freelancing full time since 1984, creating many characters such as TOM THUG, PETE AND HIS PIMPLE, COMBAT COLIN, BRICKMAN, ROBO-CAPERS, DEREK THE TROLL, SUBURBAN SATANISTS and others.
I've freelanced for IPC, Marvel Comics, Egmont, Panini,D.C. Thomson, and many others, covering the comics field from originated characters to licensed properties, pre-school to adult on comics such as BUSTER, OINK!, BEANO, DANDY, TRANSFORMERS, SONIC THE COMIC, TOXIC, VIZ, CiTV TELLYTOTS, LEGO ADVENTURES, HERMAN HEDNING, SWEET FA, ACTION FORCE, SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN, RAMPAGE, LUCKY BAG COMIC, SWIFTSURE, WARLOCK, WHITE DWARF, ACES WEEKLY, THE DAREDEVILS, THE MIGHTY WORLD OF MARVEL, and many more.
My recent comics work has included:'Team Toxic' for Egmont's TOXIC magazine'Postman Prat', 'Kid Cops' and 'The Dark Newt' for THE DANDY'Rasher', 'Pup Parade', 'Lord Snooty' and 'Ivy the Terrible' for THE BEANO.
'Felix and His Amazing Underpants', 'Pathetic Sharks' and 'Suicidal Syd' for adult comic VIZ. 'The Daft Dimension' for DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE.